Patents Examined by Brent C Thomas
  • Patent number: 12057561
    Abstract: An electrochemical system includes: an anode; a cathode; an electrolyte; and at least one inductively heatable material embedded or suspended in the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Ampcera Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Du, James Emery Brown, Chen Chen, Sumin Zhu
  • Patent number: 12051832
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system (200) having at least two fuel cell units (210, 220) that are respectively designed to be operated independently from each other, wherein the fuel cell system (200) is designed to provide an amount of heat for activating a second fuel cell unit (210) of the at least two fuel cell units (210, 220) from waste heat of a first fuel cell unit (220).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mark Hellmann, Andreas Haeffelin
  • Patent number: 12027729
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a salinity (NaCl) difference energy generating system and, more particularly, to a method of manufacturing a structural asymmetric ionic transport channel by inducing partial thermal expansion of a laminated film in which vermiculite is re-stacked and an energy generating system capable of producing power by abundant low-cost resources based on the method. The energy power generating device according to the present disclosure is capable of generating power with an easy capacity control and abundant low-cost resources, and the energy power generating device satisfying size characteristics, structural stability characteristics, and furthermore, filtering characteristics may stably produce electrical energy using a solution having a concentration similar to that of seawater and river water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION, YONSEI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Wooyoung Shim, Sungsoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11916229
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material and a preparation method therefor, a positive electrode plate containing same, a secondary battery, and a power consuming device are provided. The positive electrode active material has a core-shell structure, comprising an inner core and a shell coating the inner core, wherein the inner core comprises Li1+xMn1?yAyP1?zRzO4, and the shell comprises a first coating layer coating the inner core, and a second coating layer coating the first coating layer, and a third coating layer coating the second coating layer. The positive electrode active material of the present application enables the secondary battery to have a higher energy density, and a good rate performance, cycling performance and safety performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Qingyan Ma, Yuzhen Zhao, Yingjie Guan, Yan Wen, Qisen Huang
  • Patent number: 11876190
    Abstract: A battery pack in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a battery and a controller provided with a counter value. During discharge of the battery pack, the controller calculates an addition value in accordance with a total number of use of the battery pack under a specified condition. The controller updates the counter value by adding the addition value. The controller prohibits the discharge of the battery pack in response to the counter value reaching a protection threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiko Kobayakawa, Hiroki Uesugi, Hayato Kano
  • Patent number: 11862825
    Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system configured to, at the time of starting the fuel cell system, purge gas other than fuel gas from the fuel electrodes of a fuel cell stack in a short time. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack, an ejector set, a fuel gas supplier, a circulation flow path, a mixed gas supply flow path, a pressure detector which detects pressure information of a fuel electrode side of the fuel cell stack, a fuel off-gas discharger which discharges the fuel off-gas, in which a concentration of the fuel gas is a predetermined concentration or less, to the outside, and a controller, wherein the ejector set includes a first ejector and a second ejector in parallel, the first ejector being an ejector which supplies first mixed gas to the fuel electrodes of the fuel cell stack, and the second ejector being an ejector which supplies second mixed gas, in which a content ratio of the circulation gas is larger than the first mixed gas, to the fuel electrodes of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsusue
  • Patent number: 11862807
    Abstract: A battery ejection system is disclosed. The battery ejection system comprises a pressure vessel, a battery submodule positioned at least partway in the pressure vessel and configured to release gas into the pressure vessel, and a seal of the pressure vessel configured to release in the event a pressure level in the pressure vessel exceeds a threshold pressure level. The battery submodule is configured to be ejected from an electrical connection in the event the seal is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventor: George James Hansel
  • Patent number: 11855321
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hydrogen partial pressure can be carried out in a fuel cell system including a stack having a hydrogen electrode and an air electrode. The method includes: determining a point of time to purge the hydrogen electrode using a hydrogen concentration at an outlet of the hydrogen electrode or an accumulated amount of charge generated in the stack; and setting a target supply pressure of hydrogen supplied to the stack, in which the target hydrogen supply pressure is set in consideration of a hydrogen pressure and a partial pressure of nitrogen resulting from crossover in the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sang Eun Jang
  • Patent number: 11837762
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system configured to accurately control the gas flow rate and pressure ratio of a turbo-type air compressor. The fuel cell system is a fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell, an air compressor, an oxidant gas supply flow path, an oxidant gas discharge flow path, an oxidant gas outlet valve, a bypass flow path, a bypass valve, an atmospheric pressure sensor, an outside temperature sensor, a flow rate sensor, a rotational frequency sensor, an angle sensor, a controller, and a calculator configured to estimate the flow resistance Zd, total pressure, partial pressure and energy of each of members that are the air compressor, the oxidant gas outlet valve and the bypass valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeki Hasegawa, Motoyuki Kimata, Nobukazu Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11824160
    Abstract: Improved battery systems have been developed for lithium-ion based batteries. The improved battery systems consist of two-additive mixtures in an electrolyte solvent. Such battery systems are prepared by assembling a positive electrode and a negative electrode in the sealed cell, removing residual water from the sealed cell, filling the sealed cell with a nonaqueous electrolyte under an inert atmosphere, vacuum-sealing the sealed cell, carrying out a formation process comprising charging and discharging the sealed cell until the sealed cell achieves an initial capacity. The nonaqueous electrolyte includes lithium ions, a first nonaqueous solvent comprising a carbonate solvent, a second nonaquaeous solvent comprising methyl acetate, and an additive mixture of a first operative additive of either vinylene carbonate or fluoroethylene carbonate and a second operative additive of 2-furanone. Gas formation is suppressed in the battery system during the formation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Tesla, Inc., Panasonic Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery Raymond Dahn, Xiaowei Ma
  • Patent number: 11811118
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for capturing gas byproducts of a fuel cell system, such as nitrogen. Instead of dispelling the gas byproducts, a byproduct management system can engage in selective isolation, compression, and storage of the gas byproducts in various storage tanks. The compression and storage of the gas byproducts can be effectuated using excess energy, e.g., regenerative energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Chris Lee Rovik
  • Patent number: 11784338
    Abstract: An integrated solar hydrogen production module includes a plurality of PV cells supported on a housing of the module. The module has an energy storage system which includes a rechargeable metal ion battery and a flow battery. The metal ion battery is charged by the PV cells. An electrolyser for converting water to gaseous hydrogen and oxygen can be powered directly by the PV cells or by either of the rechargeable metal ion battery and a flow battery. The PV cells, the metal-ion battery, the flow battery membrane and the electrolyser are electrically coupled together and integrated into or carried by the module housing. Electrically powered and solar thermal heaters can be incorporated into or with the module to heat the water in the electrolysers. A pump pressurises the water to facilitate the pressurisation of hydrogen and oxygen produced by the electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: WOODSIDE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD
    Inventor: Lourens Jacobs
  • Patent number: 11769897
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a cell stack including unit cells stacked in a first direction, first and second end plates at first and second ends of the cell stack, respectively, the first and second end plates each including a metal part and a resin part, an enclosure engaged with the first and second end plates to surround the cell stack, a first outer gasket between the resin part of the first end plate and the enclosure and a second outer gasket between the resin part of the second end plate and the enclosure, each of the resin parts including cutoff portions spaced apart from each other, and each of the cutoff portions extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction or in a third direction intersecting each of the first direction and the second direction to expose the metal parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, DaeWon Kang Up Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Min Ahn, Yong Suk Heo, Gin Ook Song, Byung Keun Lee
  • Patent number: 11757109
    Abstract: The invention provides a hybrid power system, which integrates an internal combustion engine with a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack and provides power for the vehicle through the internal combustion engine at first in the preheating stage of the SOFC stack, thereby solving the problem that an SOFC stack is unable to provide power for the vehicle in the preheating stage. At the same time, the internal combustion engine burns fuel gas, outputs high temperature exhaust gas, heats the heat exchanger with the high temperature exhaust gas, then discharges the exhaust gas from an exhaust turbine and inhales air from the outside of the system. The air first passes through an air preheater, then passes through a heat exchanger and then enters the inside of the SOFC stack, preheats the air preheater through an air pipeline and then is discharged. After multiple cycles, the preheating of the SOFC stack is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventors: Youpeng Chen, Chao Yu
  • Patent number: 11749817
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a nozzle for combustion and reforming reaction including a fuel pipe, a reformer, an activation pipe, an activation catalyst, and a reformation catalyst. The fuel pipe includes an annular wall and an end wall connected to an end of the annular wall. The fuel pipe has at least one vent hole penetrating through the annular wall and at least one outlet penetrating through the end wall. The reformer is disposed in the fuel pipe. The activation pipe is disposed in the fuel pipe and disposed through the reformer. A distance between the activation pipe and the outlet is larger than a distance between the vent hole and the outlet. The activation catalyst is arranged in the activation pipe. The reformation catalyst is arranged in the reformer and located outside the activation pipe. The disclosure also provides a combustor and a fuel cell system having the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Pei-Chi Kuo, Cheng-Hao Yang, Shing-Cheng Chang, Yen-Hsin Chan, Wen-Sheng Chang
  • Patent number: 11728499
    Abstract: In this fuel cell, a cathode-side porous film that covers a cathode electrode is interposed between the cathode electrode and an air supply layer, the cathode electrode constituting electrolyte film/electrode structures. In addition, breathing holes are formed in the cathode-side porous film, and the air flowing through air supply passages passes through the breathing holes and is supplied to the cathode electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daigo Mukasa, Hitoshi Nagasaki, Takehiro Mugishima, Akio Fujimoto, Ayumi Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11715867
    Abstract: The embodiments of the application provides an end cover assembly, a battery cell, a battery module and a device, the end cover assembly is used for the battery cell, the end cover assembly includes an end cover; an electrode terminal disposed on the end cover; an insulating member for insulating the electrode terminal and the end cover and disposed to surround the electrode terminal; wherein the insulating member abuts the electrode terminal, at least one of the insulating member and the electrode terminal is provided with a stress relief groove, the stress relief groove is configured to absorb stress generated by the electrode terminal's abutting the insulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Ningsheng Wu, Chengyou Xing, Yuanbao Chen, Peng Wang, Quankun Li
  • Patent number: 11715826
    Abstract: A method for producing an electrode for a non-aqueous secondary battery is provided, the method includes: mixing a compound containing lithium, a compound containing nickel, and barium titanate to obtain a mixture; heat-treating the mixture to obtain a first composition containing a lithium-transition metal composite oxide; preparing an electrode composition containing the first composition, a conductive aid, and a binder; and applying and compressing the electrode composition on a current collector to form an active material layer with a density of from 2.4 g/cm3 to 3.6 g/cm3 on the current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Sawada, Hideyuki Kanechika, Masahiro Murayama
  • Patent number: 11685655
    Abstract: A carbon nanostructure producing method includes a growth step in which a plurality of catalyst particles in close contact with each other are separated in a flow of a carbon-containing gas so as to grow carbon nanotubes between the plurality of catalyst particles, and an elongation step in which the carbon nanotube is elongated by a wind pressure of the carbon-containing gas with at least one of the catalyst particles being retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignees: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBA
    Inventors: Takeshi Hikata, Soichiro Okubo, Ryusuke Nakai, Jun-ichi Fujita
  • Patent number: 11677091
    Abstract: The present invention relates to use of a quaternary ammonium salt-type anthraquinone-based active material, and a salt cavern organic aqueous redox flow battery. The quaternary ammonium salt-type anthraquinone-based active material is used as a negative active material in a salt cavern battery, and a quaternary ammonium salt group is introduced, which can improve the solubility of anthraquinone in a neutral sodium chloride solution, thereby increasing the energy density of the battery. Also, the material has a relatively good stability, without the need for charging and discharging under the protection of an inert gas environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: CHINA SALT JINTAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liuping Chen, Dan Li, Hui Wang, Yu Zhao, Yingzhong Zhu, Junhui Xu, Xuqiang Ma